Free Pattern: Blue December Pillow from Janome

Dreaming of a snow filled December? Create this delightful throw pillow with the Horizon Memory Craft 8900QCP Special Edition. Enjoy the precise stitches from this machine while piecing your pillow top, then put your own creative touch on the pillow with great quilting. Try the convertible free motion quilting foot, or for a more structured look, some straight line quilting. The Janome MC8900QCP does a spectacular job of tackling any quilting project and will give your home an festive look this season.

2. From the 1.5” x 1.5” squares cut, set out 13 (E) low volumes, all 4 (A) squares, and 8 of the (B) squares.

3. Place the squares in the positions above to prepare for piecing the center of the block.

4. Sew the 5 squares in each row with a ¼” seam allowance. Prior to pressing the seams, decide if you want to press to the side or press your seams open. If you press to the side, you will need to be sure to alternate your seams so they lay flat and don’t accumulate a bulky seam. The example above has seams pressed to the side, alternating directions.

9. Once these rows have been pieced together, press seams and sew each row to the next, following the layout. Repeat this step 4 times to complete all of these blocks.
10. Take 2 of the blocks completed in step 8 and your center piece completed in step 7. Arrange as shown in the layout picture and sew with a ¼” seam allowance. Press seams. Set aside.

11. In order to make the side pieces of the pillow top, repeat this step to make your two finished sides.

12. Take one 6” x 6” low volume, then one block completed in step 8, and one 6” x 6” low volume.

13. Sew together as shown in the layout. Press seams.

14. Place the completed pieces from step 10 on both sides of the middle of your pillow form step 9. Sew together with a ¼” seam allowance. Press seams.

15. Now add a small border to the pillow top. On the left and right sides of the block, sew one 1.5” x 18.5” low volume strip to each side. Press seams.

16. On the top and bottom edges of the block, sew 1.5” x 21” strips to each edge. Press seams. This will be your completed pillow top.

Quilting

1. Place the 24” x 24” square of backing fabric, wrong side up, on a flat surface (remember, this fabric won’t show when the pillow is complete–it will be on the lining side). Smooth your 24” x 24” piece of batting on top of this. Lay your finished pillow top right side up on top of the smoothed batting.

2. Smooth out any wrinkles or lumps and baste in place with safety pins or spray baste.

3. Quilt as desired. This is quilted in ½” straight lines with the Janome Dual feet foot. If you choose to free motion quilt, you will need the Janome Convertible free motion quilting foot.

4. Trim and square up from the center of the block so the quilted piece measures 19” x 19”.

Assembling the Pillow

1. Assemble your cut envelope pieces for the back of the pillow, (1) 19” x 10” and (1) 19” x 14”. On one 19” long edge of each of the envelope pieces, press ½” up, then press ½” up again to make a ½” hem. Topstitch the edges.

2. Place the quilted pillow front right side up on a flat surface.

Take the hemmed 19” x 14” envelope piece and place the 19” raw edge even with the top of the quilted piece. Align the side raw edges as well. The 19” hemmed edge will be parallel to the top and bottom of the quilted piece, a little past the middle of the pillow top. Pin in place.

3. Take the hemmed 19” x 10” envelope piece and place the 19” raw edge even with the bottom raw edge of the quilted piece. Align the side raw edges as well. The hems of the envelope pieces will overlap. Pin in place.

4. Sew with ¼” seam allowance all the way around the pillow edges, being careful not to sew through pins. Clip the corners, being careful not to clip your stitches.

5. Serge the raw edges or use a zig zag stitch (stitch #11)

6. Turn your pillow case right side out, carefully pushing the corners out so they have a crisp point. Press flat. Topstitch the outer edge all the way around.

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